Showing posts with label Sandy Williams. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sandy Williams. Show all posts

Friday, June 14, 2013

The Shattered Dark by Sandy Williams [REVIEW]

TITLE: The Shattered Dark
            (The Shadow Reader #2)
AUTHOR: Sandy Williams
PUBLISHER: Ace
PUB DATE: Oct 30 2012
Summary from Goodreads:

"McKenzie Lewis has a gift. It allows her access to a world few have seen, and even fewer can comprehend. It’s her secret. And it exists in the shadows…

McKenzie was a normal college student, save for one little twist: she’s a shadow reader, someone who can both see the fae and track their movements between our world and the Realm. It’s a gift for which she has been called insane, one for which she has risked family and friends—and one that has now plunged her into a brutal civil war between the fae.

With the reign of the king and his vicious general at an end, McKenzie hoped to live a more normal life while exploring her new relationship with Aren, the rebel fae who has captured her heart. But when her best friend, Paige, disappears McKenzie knows her wish is, for now, just a dream. McKenzie is the only one who can rescue her friend, but if she’s not careful, her decisions could cost the lives of everyone she’s tried so hard to save."

Rating:

Ms. Sandy Williams! How. Dare. You?! You... you... I can’t even... *sighs heavily* Okay, okay. I’m keeping my cool. *inhales deeply*

....... *exhale*

... Nope, not working – WHAT THE HECK WAS THAT?!

Alright, let me back up a little on this. I oh so loved The Shadow Reader that I just had to read The Shattered Dark immediately – as in right after I finished the last page of the first book. It was a good thing I purchase these two books at the same time. Else I would have had to painstakingly wait for my copy of the second book, and we all know that’s just torture.

Anyway, I was very enthusiastic about stepping into McKenzie’s world once more. Especially now that she’s considered trying out a relationship with Aren. I expected things to get really interesting. Not that The Shadow Reader wasn’t as interesting mind you, but I really expected this book to take this series to another level.

The Shattered Dark was a mess. Nope, not in a bad way but rather a mess with all the war, emotions and all things crazy in between happening to McKenzie’s life. Ah, our poor little protagonist. Not only is she dealing with a complicated relationship, which by the way is rather cute that she and Aren may be from different worlds but they go about with problems just as any typical relationships go through; but she’s also dealing with the war between the former Rebels and the former Fae King’s men; add in the predicament that McKenzie’s best friend, Paige has been kidnapped by the opposing fae.

Thursday, June 6, 2013

The Shadow Reader by Sandy Williams [REVIEW]

TITLE: The Shadow Reader
(The Shadow Reader #1)

AUTHOR: Sandy Williams
PUBLISHER: Ace
PUB DATE: Oct 25 2011
Summary from Goodreads:

"There can only be one allegiance.
It’s her time to choose.


Some humans can see the fae. McKenzie Lewis can track them, reading the shadows they leave behind. But some shadows lead to danger. Others lead to lies.

A Houston college student trying to finish her degree, McKenzie has been working for the fae king for years, tracking vicious rebels who would claim the Realm. Her job isn’t her only secret. For just as long, she’s been in love with Kyol, the king’s sword-master—and relationships between humans and fae are forbidden.

But any hope for a normal life is shattered when she’s captured by Aren, the fierce and uncompromising rebel leader. He teaches her the forbidden fae language and tells her dark truths about the Court, all to persuade her to turn against the king. Time is running out, and as the fight starts to claim human lives, McKenzie has no choice but to decide once and for all whom to trust and where she ultimately stands in the face of a cataclysmic civil war."

Rating:

There are those who see beyond what normal human eyes can see. There are those who see creatures called the fae... and there are those who, like McKenzie, can see shadows they leave behind; shadows that she can read to track an escaping fae’s whereabouts. Her ability has made her an asset to the fae king. McKenzie is incredibly good at reading the shadows... good enough that the Rebels have thrown her plans of retiring and a chance at a normal human life out of proportion, and decided to kidnap her.

As she was confined by the Rebels, her captor, the fierce rebel leader, Aren makes her realize some dark truths about the Court she willingly serves. And now, McKenzie must make a choice whether to cling to the loyalty she has for the king, most of all to Kyol, the king’s sword-master whom she loves, or should she trust this rebel who has shown her the many things the Court has been eager to hide from her. In the end, she must decide which side she would be standing on once a brewing civil war finally commences.

I came across The Shadow Reader while I was browsing through Goodreads looking for an Adult Fantasy book I could read. When I saw Wendy @ The Midnight Garden gave it a 5-star rating, I was more than eager to see if it would be a satisfying read.

Hallelujah! This book has just left me grinning like an idiot afterwards. It was so good!

McKenzie has been made to believe that the rebels are vicious beings, and considering her past and what she experienced in the hands of a rebel before she met Aren’s lot, she has every reason to think that way. But I love the idea that the story showed her that when in any opposing sides, things aren’t as black and white as she sees it; there will always gray areas in between.

Monday, May 20, 2013

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? [3]

It's Monday! What are you reading? Is a meme by Sheila @ Book Journey. And I quote her: "This is a great way to plan out your reading week and see what others are currently reading as well… you never know where that next “must read” book will come from!"

Hello! Nice to see you again. I've finally managed to get back on my reading schedule after such a crazy few weeks.

RECENT READ

  

APOLLYON by Jennifer L. Armentrout
THE SHADOW READER by Sandy Williams

I've been looking forward to Apollyon after reading its predecessor, Deity and the novella Elixir. So as soon as this arrived in the mail, I just had to read it then and there. The Shadow Reader however has been on my shelf for a few months now, but I only thought to pick it up recently. And boy did I love it! Can't wait to read the next books in the series (or trilogy? I heard).

Saturday, March 9, 2013

Book Haul [23]



My "Weekly Book Haul" is pretty much just like In My Mailbox by the Story Siren, This Week In Books by Pop Culture Junkie, and Stacking the Shelves by Tynga's Reviews and all the other titles with the similar concept here and there. This is a weekly post showcasing the books you received for the given week, either bought online or from a physical bookstore, borrowed from the library or from a friend, received for review or won from a giveaway, etc.


Hi there! Thanks for visiting The Blair Book Project.

I got an incredible pile of books for this week, and I'm just so happy about them! So here they are:

TITLES:
SCARLET by Marissa Meyer

UNRAVEL ME by Tahereh Mafi (Signed Copy)
ARTICLE 5 by Kristen Simmons
SAVING JUNE by Hannah Harrington (Gift from Maria @ Bookchilla)
SISTER ASSASSIN by Kiersten White
CRIMSON FROST by Jennifer Estep (Read & Reviewed)
OVERRIDE by Heather Anastasiu (Read & Reviewed)
SUCH A RUSH by Jennifer Echols
DANCE OF SHADOWS by Yelena Black
UNREMEMBERED by Jessica Brody
THE SHATTERED DARK by Sandy Williams
THE SHADOW READER by Sandy Williams
THE ETERNITY CURE by Julie Kagawa (NetGalley)